Scott DesJarlais

Scott DesJarlais
Born	Scott Eugene DesJarlais 21 02, 1964
Birthplace	Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, physician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 4th congressional district
Education	University of South Dakota (BS, MD)
Children	3
Website	[Official website Official site]

Scott Eugene DesJarlais (Template:IPAc-en; born February 21, 1964) is an American politician and physician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 4th congressional district since January 2011. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, and raised in Sturgis, South Dakota, DesJarlais trained as a medical doctor at the University of South Dakota before relocating to Tennessee to practice medicine. He entered politics as a first-time candidate in 2010, defeating incumbent Democratic congressman Lincoln Davis during a wave election year that saw significant Republican gains nationwide. A member of the Republican Party, DesJarlais has positioned himself as a conservative on fiscal and social issues throughout his congressional tenure. His time in office has been marked by both legislative activity and significant personal controversies, including revelations about his personal life and medical practice that emerged during his early terms in Congress. Despite these controversies, which drew national media attention and prompted primary challenges, DesJarlais has repeatedly won reelection in a district that stretches across portions of East and Middle Tennessee.

Early Life

Scott Eugene DesJarlais was born on February 21, 1964, in Des Moines, Iowa. He grew up in Sturgis, South Dakota, a small city in the western part of the state known for its annual motorcycle rally. DesJarlais spent his formative years in the Sturgis community, where he attended local schools. Details about his parents and family background during his childhood years in South Dakota remain limited in publicly available records, though his roots in the state would later be noted by South Dakota media outlets when he achieved political prominence in Tennessee.

After completing his upbringing in Sturgis, DesJarlais pursued higher education at the University of South Dakota, where he would ultimately earn both his undergraduate and medical degrees. His decision to enter medicine shaped the trajectory of his pre-political career, and he eventually relocated to Tennessee to establish a medical practice. The move to Tennessee placed him in the 4th congressional district, a largely rural area spanning parts of East and Middle Tennessee, where he would later launch his political career.

Education

DesJarlais attended the University of South Dakota, located in Vermillion, South Dakota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He continued his education at the same institution's medical school, the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, where he obtained his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. After completing his medical training, DesJarlais relocated to Tennessee, where he practiced as a physician prior to entering politics. His medical background would become a significant element of both his political identity and the controversies that later emerged during his congressional career.

Career

Medical Practice

Before entering politics, DesJarlais practiced medicine in Tennessee. He established himself as a physician in the region that encompasses Tennessee's 4th congressional district. His medical career, while forming the professional foundation upon which he built his political candidacy, would later come under scrutiny when details about his conduct as a physician became public during his time in Congress. In 2013, DesJarlais was fined by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners in connection with sexual relationships with two patients, a violation of medical ethics standards. The disciplinary action represented a formal finding that DesJarlais had engaged in inappropriate relationships with patients under his care, conduct that medical licensing boards across the country consider a serious breach of professional boundaries.

2010 Congressional Campaign

DesJarlais entered electoral politics in 2010 as a Republican candidate for Tennessee's 4th congressional district, challenging incumbent Democratic congressman Lincoln Davis. The race was considered competitive from the outset, with political observers forecasting a tight contest in the district. The 2010 election cycle proved favorable to Republican candidates nationwide, as a broad anti-incumbent and anti-Democratic sentiment swept through many congressional districts, particularly in the South and in rural areas.

DesJarlais ran as a conservative Republican, aligning himself with the fiscal and social policy positions that resonated with voters in the largely rural district. The 4th congressional district at the time covered a wide swath of Tennessee, including areas in both the eastern and middle portions of the state. DesJarlais successfully defeated Davis in the November 2010 general election, winning the seat and becoming the district's first Republican representative in years. The victory made national news in the context of the broader Republican wave, and DesJarlais's background as a physician-turned-politician was noted in coverage of the new Congress.

First Term and Redistricting

DesJarlais took office on January 3, 2011, succeeding Lincoln Davis as the representative for Tennessee's 4th congressional district. Following the 2010 Census, Tennessee underwent a redistricting process that significantly altered the boundaries of the 4th district. The new map created challenges for DesJarlais, who had to adapt his political strategy to account for changes in the district's geographic composition and voter base. The redistricting forced DesJarlais to scramble to build relationships with constituents in areas that had been added to his district while maintaining support in communities he had previously represented.

During his first term, DesJarlais aligned himself with the conservative wing of the House Republican caucus. He supported efforts to reduce federal spending and took conservative positions on social policy issues. His voting record reflected the priorities of his largely rural, conservative district in Tennessee.

Personal Scandals and 2012 Reelection

DesJarlais's congressional career became embroiled in significant personal controversy beginning in 2012, when details from his past personal life and medical practice became public. Reporting by the Chattanooga Times Free Press and other media outlets revealed that DesJarlais had supported abortions and had engaged in sexual relationships with patients during his time as a physician, revelations that were particularly damaging given his public stance as a pro-life conservative.

Further details emerged from the congressman's divorce proceedings. Documents from his contentious divorce became public and received media coverage, revealing aspects of his personal life that contradicted the conservative family values platform on which he had campaigned. Additional reporting detailed relationships with multiple women, including a second girlfriend who spoke publicly about her involvement with the congressman.

Despite the wave of negative publicity, DesJarlais won reelection in November 2012, securing a second term in Congress. His victory came even as the personal scandals dominated local and some national media coverage of the race. Political analysts attributed his ability to survive the scandals in part to the strongly Republican nature of the redrawn 4th district and the advantage of incumbency.

Medical Board Discipline

In May 2013, the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners imposed a fine on DesJarlais for engaging in sexual relationships with two of his patients, a violation of the state's medical practice standards. The disciplinary action confirmed allegations that had surfaced during the prior election cycle and added an official governmental finding to the controversies surrounding his pre-congressional career. The fine drew additional media scrutiny and provided ammunition to political opponents seeking to challenge DesJarlais in future elections.

2014 Primary Challenge

The personal and professional controversies surrounding DesJarlais prompted a serious primary challenge in 2014 from Tennessee state senator Jim Tracy, who launched his campaign in early 2013. Tracy positioned himself as an alternative conservative Republican who could hold the seat without the baggage of DesJarlais's scandals. The challenger proved capable of raising significant funds for his campaign, attracting support from donors and party figures who viewed DesJarlais as vulnerable.

The 2014 Republican primary between DesJarlais and Tracy became one of the most closely watched congressional primary races in Tennessee that year. DesJarlais's campaign was further complicated by a cancer diagnosis, which forced him to leave the campaign trail for a period during the election cycle.

In an extraordinarily close result, DesJarlais defeated Tracy by a margin of just 38 votes, one of the narrowest congressional primary victories in recent Tennessee history. Tracy ultimately chose not to contest the razor-thin result, accepting the outcome and ending his challenge to the incumbent. DesJarlais went on to win the general election, securing his third term in Congress.

The 2014 cycle drew national attention to DesJarlais as one of several members of Congress who won reelection despite significant personal scandals. CNN included DesJarlais in its coverage of scandal-plagued congressional members who nonetheless retained their seats.

Subsequent Terms

Following his narrow primary survival in 2014, DesJarlais continued to serve in Congress representing Tennessee's 4th district. The district, which stretches across portions of East and Middle Tennessee, has remained a safe Republican seat throughout his tenure. DesJarlais has continued to align with the conservative wing of the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives, supporting fiscally conservative and socially conservative policy positions consistent with his original campaign platform.

As a physician serving in Congress, DesJarlais has been among a relatively small number of medical doctors in the House of Representatives. His medical background has informed his participation in healthcare-related legislative discussions, though his disciplinary history with the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners has remained a point of criticism from political opponents.

Personal Life

DesJarlais was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and raised in Sturgis, South Dakota. He relocated to Tennessee after completing his medical education at the University of South Dakota. He has three children.

DesJarlais's personal life became a matter of extensive public record and media scrutiny during his congressional career. Documents from his divorce proceedings were reported on by multiple media outlets, revealing details about his personal relationships and conduct. Reporting established that DesJarlais had engaged in sexual relationships with patients during his medical practice, conduct for which he was subsequently disciplined by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Additional reporting detailed his involvement with multiple women, including accounts from a second girlfriend who spoke publicly to the press. Reports also indicated that DesJarlais had supported abortions in his personal life, a revelation that conflicted with his public pro-life political stance.

In 2014, DesJarlais was diagnosed with cancer, which temporarily forced him off the campaign trail during the election season. He continued to serve in Congress while managing his health condition.

Recognition

DesJarlais's congressional career has been noted primarily for the juxtaposition of his electoral durability against the backdrop of significant personal controversies. His ability to win reelection despite revelations about his personal life and medical practice drew attention from national political media. CNN featured DesJarlais in its coverage of congressional members who won reelection despite scandals, noting his case as part of a broader trend in American politics. Roll Call covered the competitive dynamics of his 2014 primary race, tracking the fundraising capabilities of both DesJarlais and his challenger Jim Tracy.

His 38-vote primary victory over Jim Tracy in 2014 was among the narrowest margins in modern Tennessee congressional primary history, drawing attention to the competitiveness of intra-party challenges even in strongly Republican districts. The race illustrated the limits of scandal as a decisive factor in Republican primary elections in deeply conservative districts, a phenomenon that political commentators and strategists examined in the aftermath of the 2014 cycle.

DesJarlais's career has also been noted in the context of physician-legislators, as he is one of a limited number of medical doctors serving in the United States Congress. His background as a practicing physician before entering politics has been a feature of his public profile, though it has been complicated by the disciplinary actions taken against him by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners.